Perrotto: Rodolfo Castro Knows What Needs Fixing (+)
PITTSBURGH – Rodolfo Castro seemed like a good bet to be the everyday second baseman for the Pittsburgh Pirates when spring training began.
However, a lot of stuff has happened between February and now. Not all of it has been good for the 24-year-old switch-hitter.
Rookie Ji Hwan Bae had an impressive spring training, forcing his way into a timeshare at second base with Castro to begin the season.
When shortstop Oneil Cruz sustained a broken left ankle on April 9, it seemed like an opportunity for Castro. He was installed as the everyday shortstop.
Yet Castro now finds himself as basically a platoon player, primarily starting against left-handed pitchers. His struggles against right-handed pitching and some shaky defense at shortstop have caused a reduction in playing time.
Castro, though, is trying to keep a positive attitude.
“I control what I can control,” he said. “I continue to work hard. I’ll be ready when that comes. Right now, I just have to earn it and continue to work, do my best out there and continue to get better. My hard work is always going to be there to try to be in the lineup every day.”
Castro has started just about two-thirds of the Pirates’ games as he has been in the lineup for 40 of 61 this season. He has appeared in 56 games overall.
So, it’s not like Castro isn’t getting any chances to contribute. And he is a contributor with his .268/.360/.436 slash line and six home runs.
Part of the reason manager Derek Shelton doesn’t have him on the lineup card every day is Castro’s left/right splits. Castro is batting .364/.449/.712 in 78 plate appearances against lefties and .193/.287/.217 in 94 plate appearances versus right-handers.
Castro fully understands that hitting from the left side of the plate is a problem that needs to be fixed.
“Facing righties is just a matter of timing,” he said. “I’m going through a little tough time right now. I’m trying to get my timing against righties. We continue to work on it and hopefully we will get better at it.”
Castro has no choice but to be better at it if he wants to be more than a utility player. He also needs to improve his defense.
Castro has started 21 games as the shortstop this year as well as 16 at second base and three at third. He has minus-6 defensive runs saved while playing shortstop and coaches Don Kelly and Mendy Lopez have regularly worked with Castro before games on his fielding at that position.
Castro started twice at shortstop in the Pirates’ three-game series with the Oakland Athletics earlier this week and handled six chances without making an error. His previous start at the position had come on May 7.
Castro is confident the extra defensive drills are paying dividends.
“Work is a key to success,” Castro said. “You have to continue to work pre-game and to make sure I put myself in a good spot to be successful in games. That’s what it’ll take when it comes to defense.”
In Wednesday’s 9-5 loss to the Athletics, Castro showed his offensive value by hitting a solo home run and a two-run double. Castro’s six homers are fourth on the team after he went deep 11 times in 71 games last season.
“That’s what I’ve been working hard for, good numbers,” Castro said. “They help the team, also, but hopefully that’s the way we go. Double digits again.”
It is also part of the reason Shelton hasn’t closed the door on Castro becoming a regular in the major leagues.
“This kid is 24 years old now,” Shelton said. “Because of the fact that he’s made some young mistakes, everybody casts aside him as a (potential) everyday player. He’s 24 years old and he’s doing some really good things from the right side of the plate and when he’s played second, he’s been great. (People) have a tendency to nitpick when he makes a mistake, but again he’s 24 years old. He’s one of the youngest guys on the roster.”
The good news is that Castro knows what problems he needs to fix. The only thing standing between him and being a major-league regular is fixing them.
More about:PBN+ Pirates Pirates Analysis